It is traditional in Jewish households to light two candles to begin the celebration of the Sabbath. Many households also light a candle for each child in the family. Rabbi Abraham Twerski, also a psychiatrist, grew up in a household where candles were lit for each child. He remembers, “How edifying it was for me to know that the house was brighter because of my existence.”
It occurs to me that we should each light a candle this week to celebrate our existence in this world. This world is a brighter place because of you! And yet, remembering that Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount, “You are the Light of the World,” we should also pause in the celebration to ask ourselves, “What have I done this week to brighten the world?” Knowing a lot of you, I know that you’ve done plenty.
Keep shining!
~David